May 17, 2004: Harper proposes GST break on high gas prices [View All]

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Conservative Leader Stephen Harper promised he would provide relief for motorists by eliminating the GST on gas costing more than 85 cents a litre.

"These are revenues that no one foresaw even a few months ago. We are only depriving Ottawa of a massive windfall it didn't count on and that it doesn't need," Harper said, adding that consumers would save about a penny a litre.

"The main thing is that Canadians know the government is not trying to gouge them at the same time they are having trouble filling their tank," he said. "We want to do what we can to bring taxes down."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/05/17/harper_gst040517.html



April 27, 2008: Government ignores opposition call for action on rising oil prices, profits

OTTAWA — The federal government is ignoring opposition demands that it do something about soaring oil and gasoline prices and profits.

NDP Leader Jack Layton wants an end to tax breaks for petroleum companies, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper has rejected the approach. Layton accuses the government of dragging its feet as prices soar. Harper says the opposition's only solution is to raise taxes and he's not going to do that.

He says his government has cut the GST and reduced the tax burden for ordinary Canadians.

The opposition is angry that Petro-Canada is reporting a first-quarter profit of $1.1 billion, up from $590 million a year ago.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iGVsM8osf_VB4FBnaKzp6hJiiPZQ